John Appleby is the Lib Dem candidate for Tynemouth
North East Bylines asked candidates for our 27 constituencies ten questions on a range of subjects. We will be publishing their answers over the next few weeks.
1. What is your plan for economic revival in the North East?
Economic revival depends on the whole UK, but we can provide economic stability to build business confidence, and we will support small businesses and reduce barriers to trade through a better relationship with Europe. Devolved decision-making produces better solutions, and an enhanced Pupil Premium and student maintenance grants can level up and use the skills of disadvantaged students. We’d build on regional strengths including renewable energy industries, and reduce energy costs by investing in solar power and insulating homes. Community policing and a timely justice system will also build confidence.
2, How will you help to meet the UK’s Net Zero targets?
Insulating homes, and stringent standards for new homes, will reduce fuel-poverty and carbon emissions, with most energy produced from renewable sources (building on the wind-power expansion led by Ed Davey in government). There’ll be incentives to have rooftop solar panels and heat-pumps. Making walking and cycling more pleasant is good for health and well-being and can reduce car-use. Personally, I use and advertise a ‘car-club’ (pay-as-you-go) saving money, hassle and parking space!
We need a ‘circular economy’ too – reducing and re-using materials and goods, also saving waste and plastic pollution.
3. How will you work to end child poverty in the North East?
An enhanced Pupil Premium and Free School Meals for all disadvantaged children are key requirements, and an end to the two-child limit for Child Benefit. Better support for carers would also help. I’d personally campaign to scrap ‘cliff-edge’ rules that lead to sudden loss of benefits and cruel claw-backs of over-payments.
4. What is your view of the war on Gaza and how would you resolve it?
I am appalled by the suffering in Gaza and hope that a ceasefire can be achieved soon, with stable government and rebuilding, and a constitution for Israel and Palestine that has full rights for all citizens. There should be immediate provision of sufficient food, water and health supplies, and a cessation of violent settler activity in the West Bank.
However, I recognise that Israelis also need long-term reassurance of their security faced with hostility from Iran and others. In all conflicts an essential step is for both sides to listen to and acknowledge the fears of the other.
5. How can the curriculum be widened to make it more useful and inclusive for our pupils?
Literacy and numeracy, including facility with IT, must always be pursued as the key to other learning, but guided by practitioners, not theoreticians advocating ‘fronted adverbials’ in primary English! We need sufficient teachers, so improving conditions and reducing the numbers leaving the profession is itself key.
Practical skills, and arts and music education, have been squeezed, yet these motivate many low-achievers, and also feed into areas of UK strength. Our creative arts are a larger share of the economy than many areas with more coverage! We should also ensure that Further Education and Apprenticeships are well-funded and valued.
6. How do you propose to protect our waterways from contamination with sewage?
There should be an immediate requirement to report all overflows and penalties for concealing these. All water companies should be compelled to publish and abide by plans to reduce overflows progressively with a medium-term aim of zero non- emergency contamination. However, industrial and agricultural regulation, as well as investment, will be needed to achieve this.
7. What do you see are the main benefits of Brexit?
The theoretical benefits of working more independently of other states are massively outweighed by the practical disadvantages, especially as global trade-blocs dominate and as both environmental and security concerns require international cooperation. I’d look for an early SPS agreement to improve agricultural trade, immediate rescinding of pointless barriers to music and arts tours and student exchanges, and gradual moves towards eventual EU membership.
8. What will you do to fight for fair pay for all NHS staff?
Everyone deserves an income that meets their needs, and rewards both hard work and persistence. Most NHS hospital doctors have seen their income eroded, and a substantial restoration should be a priority. Allowing nurses, pharmacists and others to take on suitable responsibilities can take the pressure off GPs but is not a substitute for them. Overall, a reform of social care and far more focus on public health and preventive health will allow the NHS to function better and with sufficient funding for what it does best.
9 Which historical figure would you go to for advice?
For policy development – Beveridge. For bold leadership – Paddy Ashdown. For my personal interests – Araucaria (crossword compiler, for his sheer ingenuity), or Archimedes (mathematician and engineer).
10. How would you ensure that you represent all constituents, including the ones who didn’t vote for you?
Democracy does not mean using a majority vote to implement only what that majority wants. Leadership and representation should be about consensus, ensuring that everyone, if possible, is heard, understands what is done and why, and feels that in some way, even if not directly, policy and change bring them and their community some benefit. A good working relationship with local councillors is important, as much case-work is actually local. Residents also need to trust their representatives, so they not only need to see their MP, but also have confidence that ‘bigger’ decisions are done for good reasons too.
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